Archives

July 2012

July 26, 2012

DALLAS -- The Dallas Mavericks completed their 15-man roster today when they signed guard Delonte West to a one-year contract.

West, who turned 29 today, averaged 9.6 points and 3.2 assists in 24.1 minutes per game this past season. He played in 44 of the team's 66 games, missing a chunk of the 22 games after fracturing his right ring finger during a Feb. 15 contest against the Denver Nuggets.

“We are thrilled that Delonte is returning to the Mavericks,” general manager Donnie Nelson said. “Delonte is a great fit on our roster.

"We are excited that he will bring the same toughness and versatility on both ends of the court as he did last year.”

DALLAS -– With a little luck from the basketball gods, the Dallas Mavericks may be able to field a roster that will include the incomparable Dwight Howard.

According to SI.com sources, the Orlando Magic’s six-time All-Star center told the Magic’s top brass on Wednesday that if they traded him to the Los Angeles Lakers or Brooklyn Nets, he would re-sign with one of those teams at the end of the 2012-’13 season.

In a two-hour meeting with Magic officials in Los Angeles, Howard also reportedly said if Orlando trades him to another team other than the Lakers or Nets – or doesn’t trade him at all – he will sign a free agent contract with the Mavs next summer.

The report noted that, behind the Lakers and Nets, the Mavs are Howard’s preferred destination. That should be welcome news to the Mavs, who are steadily beating the bushes trying to make sure Dirk Nowitzki is the team’s second-best player.

With over half of their team in the final year of their contract, the Mavs will certainly have the salary cap space to sign Howard next summer. The chance to land a player of Howard’s ilk is why the Mavs cleared almost everyone from their 2011 championship team.

It’s also why the Mavs only pursued players with one-year contracts this offseason. Players of Howard’s talents don’t come around very often, so the Mavs wanted to be in prime position just in case Howard wants Dallas to be his preferred destination.

With Howard drawing constant double-teams in the middle, it’ll be mere target practice on the perimeter for Nowitzki, who is 34 years old. Also, other quality players will be lining up all the way to the West End to play for the Mavs – for a bargain-basement price – if they know they’ll be sharing the same locker room with Howard and Nowitzki.

This coming season, Howard will collect $19,261,200 -- the seventh highest-paid salary in the NBA. Needless to say, whatever it takes to get him in a Mavs uniform, owner Mark Cuban will undoubtedly do it.

As far as centers go, Howard is the game’s most dominant pivotman. The 26-year old three-time Defensive Player of the Year has career averages of 18.4 points, 13 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game, while shooting 57.7 percent from the field.

Indeed, if Howard can make it through the upcoming season without being traded to the Lakers or Nets, there may be another Mavericks parade in downtown Dallas in June of 2014. And another one in 2015, ’16, ‘17. . .

July 25, 2012

DALLAS -- The Dallas Mavericks all but completed their roster today when they signed rookie forward Bernard James to a one-year contract worth $473,604.

James was the 33rd pick in last month's NBA Draft after averaging 10.8 points, 8.1 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game this past season at Florida State. The 6-10, 240-pounder was a Staff Sergeant while serving for six years in the Air Force, including three tours of duties in Iraq, Afghanistan and Qatar.

During the Mavs' five games last week at the Las Vegas Summer League, James, 27, averaged 10.2 points, 9.0 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per contest.

The signing of James gives the Mavs 14 players with guaranteed contracts. Delonte West will become the 15th player sometimes soon since the guard verbally agreed Tuesday to re-sign with the Mavs.

July 24, 2012

DALLAS -- No one could imagine the Dallas Mavericks entering this season without a point guard who didn't know the ins and outs of coach Rick Carlisle's system.

That's why when Delonte West agreed to a one-year contract with the Mavs on Tuesday, it should not have been a surprise.

The Mavs still had the veteran's minimum of $1.3 million and the $2.5 million "room exception'' available to give to West. A source said they agreed on a contract somewhere in the middle of those two numbers.

Last year West was the primary backup to Jason Kidd and averaged 9.6 points, 3.2 assists and 1.3 steals while starting 33 games. With Kidd now playing for the New York Knicks, the Mavs were virutally forced to reunite forces with West, who is a gritty playmaker and a ferocious defender.

Darren Collison, who the Mavs acquired in a trade with the Indiana Pacers earlier this month, will likely become Dallas' starting point guard this season. But Collison has yet to learn Carlisle's playbook.

Meanwhile, rookie Jared Cunningham is in the same boat with Collison. And third-year veteran Rodrigue Beaubois has been so inconsistent that he can't be fully counted on to run the offense.

Sure, newcomer O.J. Mayo could be the quarterback at times. But Mayo has spent the balance of his four-year career as a shooting guard.

Dominique Jones, who will be entering his third season this fall, showed some promise as a point guard last week during summer league play. But is Carlisle really comfortable giving him the keys to his offense?

"Dominique Jones had a terrific summer league,'' general manager Donnie Nelson said. "He played point guard 80 percent of the time and he was on the first team All-Star team and really played well.

"And Collision, here’s a guy that was the starting point guard for an Indiana team that went deep in the playoffs.''

Despite the presence of Collison, Jones, Beaubois and Mayo, the Mavs came to the realization that they needed a solid point guard like West to help run the offense. Now entering his ninth season, West is very familiar with Carlisle's offense, which should be advantegous to the Mavs the season.

The addition of West gives the Mavs 14 players with guaranteed contracts -- one below the league maximum. The 15th spot will likely be taken by rookie forward Bernard James.

West, who turns 29 on Thursday, fractured his right ring finger last season and missed 22 games. The injury eventually required surgery.

ARLINGTON – There’s a possibility that Dallas Mavericks players who are in the final year of their contract this upcoming season will also be on the team during the 2013-’14 season or beyond.

Chris Kaham and Elton Brand signed one-year contracts with the Mavs earlier this month, while Dahntay Jones and Brandan Wright are operating on one-year contracts. Also, the Mavs hold team options after this season on Vince Carter and Dominique Jones, and can offer Rodrigue Beaubois and Darren Collison qualifying offers following this season.

In essence, general manager Donnie Nelson said not to automatically expect the Mavs’ to undergo a complete overhaul next summer while they pursue a player that’ll make Dirk Nowitzki the team’s second-best player.

“The intent certainly is for all these free agents to stay Mavericks, and we’ve got a lot of room next year,’’ Nelson told Arlington-based fishbowlradionetwork.com said. “And that room can be used for signing our own free agents.

“We’re certainly aware of the free agents that are out there next year on the market place.’’

As of now, Dwight Howard, Andrew Bynum, Chris Paul, James Harden and Serge Ibaka will be the top free agents next summer. The Mavs are expected to make a hard run at one, or all, of those players.

“None of us have a crystal ball and we don’t know the future,’’ Nelson said. “But I think the signings this summer were with the idea of staying flexible, let’s see what’s out there, let’s put a playoff-caliber team out there that -- at the right time and if they gel together -- maybe you can haveone of those magical runs.

ARLINGTON -– It seems a foregone conclusion that the Dallas Mavericks will eventually come to terms on a new contract with free agent point guard Delonte West.

Or, is it?

When he was healthy last season, West was a very productive player for the Mavs. And with Jason Kidd now with the New York Knicks, the Mavs may need a veteran playmaker like West around while newcomers Darren Collison and rookie Jared Cunningham pick up the offense.

“We’ve got 15 spots and 13 players are under contract,’’ general manager Donnie Nelson told fishbowlradionetwork.com on Monday. “We’ve got a little work to do yet, hopefully Delonte will slide into one of those spots.

“If that’s the case that’ll be great.’’

And if that’s not the case?

“There’s also an argument for keeping that last roster spot open, because sometimes you get lucky towards the end of the summer,’’ Nelson said. “That’s probably how we’ll play it up, unless something really good presents itself.’’

All bargains aside, the Mavs would love to have West back in the saddle. In 44 games for the Mavs this past season, West averaged 9.6 points and 3.2 assists per contest while being one of the team’s fiery leaders.

“We’re still in negotiations with his agent and we’re hopeful that we can work something out,’’ Nelson said. “Obviously he’s got options and he’s got to sort through those.

“Some of those are timing issues there. We’ve just got to continue to negotiate and talk and see if there’s a fit there.’’

Rookie forward Bernard James is expected to be the 14th Mavs player under contract. Only time will tell if West will be that 15th player.

The Blazers interviewed Stotts for their head coaching job last Tuesday, and he's slated to be interviewed again – possibly later this week. Stotts has been with the Mavs since 2008, and it’ll be a big blow for coach Rick Carlisle if he winds up with the Blazers.

“Terry is one of the top assistants in the league,’’ general manager Donnie Nelson told fishbowlradionetwork.com on Monday. “He was absolutely deserving of that interview and we support him 100 percent.

“We would had to lose Terry, but as far as a head coach opportunity, he should be at the top of everybody’s list. Those are just situations that need to play themselves out.’’

If Stotts is hired by Portland, he'll become the second Mavs assistant coach to leave Dallas in as many years. After they won the 2011 NBA title, the Mavs lost assistant coach Dwane Casey, who became the head coach of the Toronto Raptors.

ARLINGTON -– With where they were after losing out on Deron William, the Dallas Mavericks view the pickup of center Chris Kaman as a big-time bonus.

Kaman signed a one-year, $8 million free agent contract with the Mavs earlier this month. While the signing wasn’t as earth-shattering as what Williams would have meant, the Mavs are extremely delighted to have Kaman under lock and key.

“Chris is a guy that if you had the free agent board in front of you, he was one of the top guys this summer,’’ general manager Donnie Nelson told Arlington-based fishbowlradionetwork.com on Monday. “He can probably be the best low post, throw the ball in and let him do his thing center that we’ve had in a long, long time.

“We’ve had some defensive centers and shot-blockers. But Chris is the kind of guy that you can establish the low post with, which will make Dirk (Nowitzki’s) life a little bit easier.’’

Nelson believes Nowitzki will benefit handsomely from Kaman’s presence, because he is a solid scorer.

“Our focus really is to make it quite easy on Dirk,’’ Nelson said. “He’s been a great player for a long period of time, but we’ve got to take pressure off him.

“We’ve got to give him some support where he doesn’t have to score an incredible fadeaway every other time down the floor.’’

Kaman and Nowitzki were teammates on the 2008 German national team, so they both have a solid history together that the Mavs think can work in their favor.

“We’re looking forward to his presence both defensively and offensively,’’ Nelson said of Kaman. “He and Dirk have a relationship together.

“They played on the German national team together, so the chemistry factor is there, which is also big for us.’’

July 21, 2012

DALLAS -– The Dallas Mavericks moved a step closer toward filling out their roster Saturday when they signed rookie guard Jared Cunningham to a three-year, $3,020,900 contract.

Under the NBA's rookie scale, Cunningham will be paid $963,600 this season and $1,007,000 during the 2013-'14 campaign. The Mavs hold a team option that will pay Cunningham $1,050,300 in the 2014-'15 season.

Cunningham was the 24th overall pick out of Oregon State last month. The 6-4 Cunningham averaged 17.9 points and 2.5 steals this past season when he was chosen first-team all-Pac 12.

The Mavs, who now have 13 players under contract, are expecting Cunningham to be a part of their rotation this coming season.

Forward Jae Crowder signed his rookie contract with the Mavs on Friday. With Cunningham’s signing, that leaves forward Bernard James – the 33rd overall pick – as the lone Mavs’ draftee yet to sign.

July 19, 2012

DALLAS -- For guard O.J. Mayo, he was not in a "show me the money'' mood during free agency this summer.

Mayo's business manager, LaPoe Smith, said his client was more interested in getting involved in a winning situtation than trying to break the bank.

"It wasn't about the money,'' Smith said. "It was about being in the right situation.''

The right situation for Mayo turned out to be the Dallas Mavericks, who signed him to a two-year contract Thursday for approximately $8.5 million. The second year of the contract -- for about $4.5 million -- is a player's option.

Smith said Mayo turned down one contract this summer that was worth $11 million. He said he also turned down an offer from the Phoenix Suns that was worth between $9 million-$10 million so he could play for the Mavs.

"You've got to know what the young man wants in his life,'' Smith said. "He didn't want to go to a team that loses 60 games.

"That's not any fun. O.J. deserves better than that.''

Mayo, who the Memphis Grizzlies didn't pick up his $7.3 million qualifying offer this summer, acknowledged that the Mavs' championship pedigree played a major role in him signing with Dallas.

"They did it two years ago,'' Mayo said of the Mavs winning the 2011 NBA title. "So it’s definitely cool to say that they are a championship organization.''

With Dirk Nowitzki, Shawn Marion and Vince Carter back, and coach Rick Carlisle as the architect, Mayo has high hopes of the Mavs winning a second championship in a three-year span.

"Hopefully with some of the veteran guys they already have and me bringing some new juice to the team, hopefully we can get back to that level,'' Mayo said. "I think we can, because I know the pedigree of Coach Carlisle -- he’s a terrific coach.

"He’s one of the main reasons I came here. I just have a lot of faith in his ability to get the job done. And then just watching Dirk’s work ethic and Vince and Shawn. . .it’ll make me a better player, I believe.''

Indeed, the chance for Mayo to get better and the chance to win a ring took precedence over the chance for him to hit the financial jackpot.

"It was a decision that we went through several times,'' Smith said. "We looked at a lot of people and we finally decided that this is what we’re going to do.''